The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-07
THE SAYFORD MEETINGS.
LARGE CONGREGATIONS ATTENDED
THE SERVICES YESTERDAY.
A Great Question Propounded-"Wha
Think Ye Of Christp"-A Converse
ton with the Phillippian Jailer About
Conversion.

The revival meeting yesterday evening
was for men only, and there was very |
large gathering Of them present, nearly |
filling the body of the house, and they |
gave marked attention throughout, espe- |
cially to the words OF Mr.. sayiord, which |
were forcible and pointed. The exercises |
were opened with singing by congregation
and choir, after which there was singing
by the choir alone. Dr. Richardson then
led in prayer followed by the male quar-
tet singing GAN the Way Long 1t Is
Jesus" There was further singing by
choir and quartet. Mr.. Sayford then fol-
lowed with his sermon, taking as his text
the words, "What Think Ye OF Christi
81 want" said he, "to convince you,
friends, who are skeptical about the Saw
Tor. Man may be Intellectually convinced
Of the claims of Jesus, and clearly see and
accept the evidences Of his divine mission
and resurrection, and yet none can know
him as Lord except the spirit of God re-
yesl him, and it is 10 this last
point that | desire to bring you Most
men here OF ordinary or extraordinary in
tclligcnce believe that Jesus OF Nazareth
was u person remarkable, from any stand
point lac may be looked at--lived and died
among men. But is he more than good,
remarkable man, q perfect man, teacher
come from God? Now we come TO this
book-the Bible-never mind what you
think OF it, Wen take il as IL treats OF
historical facts only Just now. Intel
lectually il has been turned upside down
hundreds and hundreds Of times, and
heaps Of copies have been burned and peo-
pie have been trying To rid themselves Of
IL for all ages until now. But the fact OF
the matter Is the book came TO stay
Fools can attack truth, but truth cannot
be destroyed. A man cannot prove that
il is not the word of God. II is claimed
that it is the production Of man, but
unaccounted for as such, and we examine
the historic teachings with reference to
this unique man Of the centuries. Now,
in his book, which is full OF prophetic his
tory, we find in Genesis H., -, that he is
to he of the seed OF the woman and in lsa-
iah we are told lac is 10 be born Of virgin;
and the same book predicts son, and
tells us his name, and in the ninthchapter
Of Isaiah we are told again his government
shall be upon his shoulders, and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Councillor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
II We had time we could trace the gene
alogy carefully ard infinitely from Shcm 10
Arbram and lssf las distinguished from
lshmacl), aud sa,l further TO Jacob, and
81 ON down Micah tells us long before the
event that lac should be born in Bethle-
hem.
Jacob tells us when he il to he born
The sccplcr shall not depart from Judah,
nor law given from between his feet UNI
iii shiloh come and Daniel gives the
time still more definitely in Daniel ix
, His advent was 10 be announced, Isaiah
, and Malachi tells ms, a man, messenger,
4 will annouce 1.-THE voice OF one crying
, in the wilderness, Prepare yc the way OF
> the Lord, make straight in the desert a
4 highway for our Cod Fifteen or more
: years ago, used 10 take special delight in
n trying 10 find places where imagined pas
. silgcs Of scripture contpdctcd themselves,
q but came 10 the conclusion that there
|. was no itise In butting against these
!. prophecies. We are told in the Old
4 Testament what his character is 90 be,
9 what his work is, what sort Of preaching hc
!. will do, how the people
4 will receive him, how he il TO appear M
a King In Jerusalcm-a King riding upon an
!. aSs-what the end Of this life is 20 be: who
|. il 10 deliver him into the hands Of his enc.
q micsg The scattering Of his disciples IL pre-
/. dictcd: THE shepherd is smitten and the
}. sheep of the flock are scattered Va
J. learn how he IL 10 die We arc told that
he IL not 10 remain in the grave, and that
he IN IN ascend again unto the father. We
are told, too. that he IL 10 come again in
like manner M he went up Now, we find
y that the wise men 81 the east came Ia make
u inquiries about this child; that lac was
!. born in Bethlehem. Is II not strange that
G these men should bow down briorc this
G babe, and that they should entirely ignore
g what Ilerod told them 10 do? II Il moi
n strange that the birth Of this child should
Q destroy the peace OF mind ol the King
y llcrud?
b Is il not strange that when twelve years OF
. age he should 20 into the courts aud con.
). found the doctors there? Then look ut the
!. record 81 his ministry. See how hc was
;. tempted 10y the devil. and the scripture hc
quoted In defense. lie gathers about him
the poorest Of men ~ his companions. lie
exercises p'markablc power, brings sight
n tp the blind makes the dumb 10 speak,
o the deaf 10 hear, the lame Ia walk. and
a CAUSES the deal Ia come to lie. Some ul
q. YOU have said, III ! had lived In those
4 days would have believed My friends,
!, YOU have better chance now. II you
don't believe now you would not have
believed then. Again and again hc las
sud oi himself lir Is the son OF Col. lie
= SAYS 4 am In the Father and the Faihc
u in me- lie SAYS hc came irum the
Father. Where, then, h. the carrying ont
Of prophecy that hc should be- put Ia
!. death? lie WIS put In the grave. aud
thcp WIS the guari over the gave. They
u wcnn put hcru Ia watch, aud wcrc on lhc
\ alert, hut the Savior arusc. lie left the
y tomb aud talked a. his friends. Doubling
Thomas WIS convinced NJ Chnst'H rsut.
rcction. lie assembled "a the Father
; In heaven, and IL thcr now
= intervening Tor us Now, my friends, you
r. have not hcarl me preach down the
b thcuiCr. cards the dance, whisky. but sou
!, have heard me puach M Christ"
i The speaker clos'd with earnest cNorta.
= ton that all prsont should give them.
2 sclycs fully Ia Christ, and. nj the request
!. that ull persons dcsiruus 81 following him
i should manifest Il by rising, the oniirc
!. congregation ar1ac.
i The quartet sang with much feeling
the beautiful song God H. With You
Till We Meet Aglin."
The Nigh, service.
Tho night service was opened with sing.
, ing by the choir, after which thcrr was
prayer. The male quartet sang "Oh, 10
. H. Over Yondcr." Mr. Sayiord then rcnd
4 Psalm cNy.. and after singing by both
! choir aud quartet, he entered upon bis
!. sermon, the subject being "a Conversation
, With the phillippian Jailcr About CONVEX.
Y .t.t, - ,tlt.k 49, I.NNl sstfh a.. .iaa.af